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Autumn Ruminations (and Goals)

David Freedman, PM2

the worst of the isolation period. Hybridizing seasons now over a year after that isolation, I’m
our meetings helped bring more people in as extremely thankful that the social situation has
well as reassure current members that we could changed to where we can be together again. I no
thrive in this new environment, but to say that longer take for granted any social gathering as

we’re still in a period of adjustment is a bit of an I’m aware it could be taken away at any time.
understatement. Conversely, many of us have embraced the
The truth of the matter is that change, while advantages that Zoom has brought such as visiting
being a constant, isn’t always a comfortable people and Clubs in other countries or attending

experience even under the best of circumstances. one’s Club from home. It’s an interesting mix of
I was an Area Director before the pandemic circumstances that I’m still getting used to.
started, and thank goodness for that since I’d The bottom line is, I’ve done the best I can
gained the necessary skill sets on Zoom before the under the most bizarre of circumstances to

isolation began. Isolating through the pandemic embrace change as it comes. The autumn season
meant counting the seasons as we waited for a holds just as much promise as springtime, but
creditable vaccine. The warmer periods meant I I’ll acknowledge it has its challenges, too. I’m not
wasn’t completely confined to my home. Granted, looking forward to the increasing hunger that I

I could still go to the gym when it was open, experience as the weather gets colder, and yet
and I socialized as much as I dared with people the holiday feasts sound all the more enticing
outside even during some of the winter months. because of it. Perhaps embracing change isn’t just
Zoom was a lifeline as much as it was a painful finding that silver lining so much as recognizing

reminder of reality shifting sideways. During my that, no matter what the season, there’s always a
year of isolation, I lived alone, and touch became fresh start around the corner. And for that I’ll be
such a rarity that the warm weather was probably forever grateful.
the best substitute I could get. When I view the

VOICES! | SEPTEMBER 2022 37